Smile for the camera - Paul Debois photoshoot

Having longed for rain summer long, wet weather was the last thing I was praying for last Friday when we had pro-photographer Paul Debois coming to Wisley to take a photoshoot for the project. The forecast did not look good, with a heavy band of rain due in. Starting work at 8am, we caught some wonderful morning sunshine with the first drops of rain only coming at lunchtime - what a relief!

The photos will be used to illustrate our advice to gardeners next year when we have published papers from the Plants for Bugs research to interpret. For part of the shoot we popped down to Wisley Village where one of our gardeners and his wife have developed a superb wildlife garden. No sooner had Paul set up his equipment than a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the bird feeder, showing off.

Will aim to post some of Paul's photos when we have them. In the meantime, here's a collection of him in the wildlife garden in the village and on the plots at Deers Farm, with Andy Salisbury and myself.